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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

WEDNESDAY 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 19, 2007WEDNESDAY 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT - YEAR I

JUDGES 13:2-7, 24-25There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whosename was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children. Anangel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, "Though youare barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear ason. Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and toeat nothing unclean. As for the son you will conceive and bear, norazor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to Godfrom the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israelfrom the power of the Philistines." The woman went and told herhusband, "A man of God came to me; he had the appearance of an angelof God, terrible indeed. I did not ask him where he came from, nordid he tell me his name. But he said to me, `You will be with childand will bear a son. So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eatnothing unclean. For the boy shall be consecrated to God from thewomb, until the day of his death.'" The woman bore a son and namedhim Samson. The boy grew up and the Lord blessed him; the Spirit ofthe Lord stirred him.

LUKE 1:5-25In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest namedZechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from thedaughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteousin the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances ofthe Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth wasbarren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving aspriest in his division's turn before God, according to the practiceof the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuaryof the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of thepeople was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, theangel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altarof incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear cameupon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah,because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bearyou a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy andgladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great inthe sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb,and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord theirGod. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turnthe hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to theunderstanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for theLord." Then Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this?For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." And theangel said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God. Iwas sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. Butnow you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day thesethings take place, because you did not believe my words, which willbe fulfilled at their proper time." Meanwhile the people werewaiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in thesanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, andthey realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He wasgesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministrywere completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabethconceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, "Sohas the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take awaymy disgrace before others."

REFLECTIONJohn the Baptist came from a barren womb, so did Samson and someothers who served the Lord. Jesus came from a virgin womb, from aheart reserved for God alone. Such is God's way with people. Yet,when God works and enters our lives, miracles happen and our livesare full. So let us prepare for the coming of God this Advent, forhis birth within the kingdom of our hearts. This is the time and theseason of the Spirit's reign when the barrenness of our hearts givesbirth and bears the fruit of God.

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